Container filling machine



July 28, 1959 E. s. MlNARD 2,896,676

CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1956 ll Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EVERETT S. MINARD ATTORNEY July 28, 1959 5s. MINARD CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1956 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EVERETT MiNARD ATTORNEY July 28, 1959 E. s. MINARD 2,896,676

CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1956 11 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR. EVERETT S. MINARD ATTORNE'Y CONTAINER FILLINGMACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1956 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 v 220 I70 '88 I46 I34 O HEP 112 0 /25B 0 A260 I80 0 i INVENTOR. 1 B1 EVERETT s. MINARD 254 260 25s ATTORNEY July 28, 1959 E, s, MINARD 1 v 7 2,896,676

CONTAINER IFILLING'MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, i955 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 ETT S.MINAFID ATTORNEY July 28, 1959 ES. MINARD CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed'Jan. 16, 1956 INVENTOR. EVERETT S. MINARD ATTORNEY FIG. l6

- July 28, 1959 ESMINARD "2,896,676 I CO NTAINER FILLING MACHINE T Filed Jan. 16, 1956 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 I ITO 96 398 I 40 52 l as- 39 W 5 304 I 24 I 392 356 l 300 I 1 f T 354 32 i I I Ii' 1 i i 'n-= INVENTOR.

EVERETT s. MINARD Filed Jan. 16, 1956 11 Sheets-Sheei a INVENTDR.

D R A W M S T T E R E V E ATTORNEY July 28, 1959 s. MINARD 2,896,676

CONTAINER FILLING'MACHINE Filed Jan. 16,- 1956 11 sheets-sneer. e

FIG. 20

INVENTOR. EVERETT s. MINARD ATTORNEY Ju1y 28, 1959 E. s. MlNARD 2,895,676

CONTAINER FILLING momma: Filed Jan. 16, 1956 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 FIG. 23

452 I Fl G. 24

IN VEN TOR.

7 ATTQ R N E 'Y EVERETT $.MINARD eam coNrArNER FILLING MAc'rnNn Everett S. Minard, Laguna Beach, Calif., assignor, by

mesue assignments, to Chernetron Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application January '16, 1956, Serial No. 559,229

17 Claims. or. 141-146 This invention relates to receptacle filling machines and more particularly to apparatus for automatically filling serially presented portable receptacles with fluent materials.

The invention is especially concerned with a novel base asembly for holding various sub-assemblies. When the sub-assemblies are attached to the base assembly, difierent types of machines are obtained which are adapted to perform various types of filling operations dependent upon the properties of the fluent materials being filled into the receptacles.

Containers of metal, glass or plastics are widely used for the marketing of various types of fluid such as juices and beverages as well as mixtures of fluids and solids, such as soups, which are sealed into cans and bottles for sale at grocery stores and super-markets. As another example, different types of lubricants and oils have been made available at service stations for use in automobiles. New fluent materials are constantly being made available for sale in containers such as cans and bottles.

Because of the widespread sale and use of fluids and 1semi-solids in containers such as cans and bottles, the filling of the containers with such materials has become .a large business. Since large numbers of containers such .as cans and bottles have to be filled daily, many types of machines have been built which have 'made the filling operations highly automatic.

One of the problems in the filling machines now in ruse results from the different types of products which vihave to be filled into the containers at different times. For example, as the agricultural season progresses from the spring through the summer and into the fall, fluids ,{having different viscosities may have to be filled into the scans. At one time a somewhat viscous fluid such as Ihoney may have to be filled and at a different time during .rthe growing season a somewhat non-viscous fluid such ;as apple juice may have to be filled into the cans. During ..the time that viscous material such as honey is being pfilled into the containers, one type of filling machine is .used. Another type of filling machine is used when nonviscous fluids such as apple juice are being filled into :cthe containers. This has required considerable expendi- Ltures of money for different equipment for diflerent products. It has also required increased floor space for i'holding the different types of machines and increased :maintenance charges for maintaining the machines even -.while they are idle.

This invention provides apparatus for overcoming the r above disadvantages. The invention includes a base as :sembly which is adapted to hold different types of sub- .assemblies. These sub-assemblies are adaptedto per- :form filling operations with fluids of different viscosity when they are attachedto the base assembly. For ex- ;ample, when viscous fluids are to be filled into cans, "certain sub-assemblies can be attached to the base asrsenibly to produce a machine having the desired proper- ;ties. These sub-assemblies can be removed from the base :assemblyxattheend of the filling operation and stored rates Patent 62,896,676 Patented July 28, 195% until the next time that viscous fluids have to be filled.

. a single base assembly and attaching difierent sub-assemblies to the base assembly for obtaining the filling of different fluids, the amount of floor space required can be minimized. Furthermore, problems of maintenance and of expenditures for capital equipment also tend to become minimized.

The apparatus constituting this invention also includes certain components of novel structure. For example, novel types of valve assemblies are included in certain of the sub-assemblies. The valve stems in these assemblies are provided with spool portions having novel configurations in filling operations to obtain the filling of fluent material such as fluid into containers without the creation of any turbulence or air pockets in the fluid. The valve steam assemblies are also advantageous in that they can be easily withdrawn and cleaned to remove undesirable material which may have become stuck to the peripheries of the spool portions. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional View of a base assembly upon which different apparatus for performing various types of filling operations may be mounted and is taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a top plan view-of the base assembly shown in Figure l and illustrates the construction of the base assembly in further detail;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the base assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 and of apparatus mounted on the base assembly for filling containers with fluent material by a piston type of operation from a position at the top of the containers and is taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 3 and illustrates the construction of the apparatus in further detail;

Figure 5 is a sectional View of the apparatus shown in Figures 3 and 4 and is taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 4 and illustrates the construction and relative disposition of certain valve members at one instant of operation, certain members in the figure being broken away to show other members in detail;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Figure 4 and illustrates the relative disposition of valve members corresponding to those shown in Figure 6 at the same instant of operation as the valve members shown in Figure 6, one of the valve members being broken away to illustrate in some detail certain features in the valve member;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view substantially on the line 3-45 of Figure 6 and illustrates in further detail the construction of one of the valve members shown in Figures 6 and 7;

Figure 9 is an enlarged top plan view of certain members shown in Figure 4 and illustrates the construction and relative disposition of these members on a quadrature basis with respect to the position of the members as shown in Figure 4;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational View of the members shown in Figure 9 in one operational position of the members, certain of the members being shown in section for purposes of clarity;

Figure 11 is an enlarged framentary elevational View corresponding to that shown in Figure 10 and illustrates the disposition of certain of the members shown in Figure 10 in a second state of operation;

Figure 12 is a developed view schematically illustrating in elevation the apparatus shown in Figures 3 to 11, inclusive, and particularly illustrating the relative disposition of certain control members and valve members in the apparatus at one instant of operation for all of the members;

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of certain members shown in Figure 12 and illustrates the construction of these members in further detail;

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the members shown in Figure 13 and is taken substantially on the line 14-14 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is an enlarged sectional view of the members shown in Figures 13 and 14 and is taken substantially on the line 1515 of Figure 14;

Figure16 is a view, partly in section, of the base assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 and of apparatus mounted on the frame for filling cans with fluid by a piston type of operation from a position advancing upwardly from the bottom of the cans and is taken in an elevational relationship on a line corresponding substantially to that on which Figure 3 is taken;

Figure 17 is a sectional view of certain members shown in Figure 16 and is taken substantially on the line 1717 of Figure 16;

Figure 18 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of certain valve members shown at the right of Figure 16 as seen from a position corresponding to that shown in Figure 16 and illustrates the construction and relative disposition of these members in further detail;

Figure 19 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of certain members shown in Figures 16 and 18 as seen from an elevational position corresponding to that shown in Figures 16 and 18 and illustrates the relative disposition of these members in a second state of operation of the members;

Figure 20 is a developed view schematically illustrating in elevation the apparatus shown in Figures 16 to 19, inclusive, and particularly illustrating the relative disposition of certain cams and valve members in the apparatus at one instant of operation of all of the cams and valve members;

Figure 21 is a view, partly in section, of the base assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 and of apparatus mounted on the base assembly for filling cans with fluid by a gravity type of operation and is taken in an elevational relationship on a line corresponding substantially to that on which Figure 3 is taken;

Figure 22 is a developed view schematically illustrating in elevation the apparatus shown in Figure 21 and particularly illustrating the relative disposition of certain cams and valve members in the apparatus at one instant of operation of all of the cams and valve members;

Figure 23 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of certain valve members shown at the left of Figure 21 as seen from a position corresponding to that shown in Figure 21 and illustrates the construction and relative disposition of these members in further detail;

Figure 24 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, of certain valve members shown at the right of Figure 21 as seen from a position corresponding to that shown in Figure 21 and illustrates the relative disposition of these members at the same instant of operation as the corresponding members shown in Figure 23;

Figure 25 is an enlarged sectional view substantially on the lines 25-25v of Figures 21 and 26; and

Figure 26 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View substantially on the line 2626 of Figure 25.

Base assembly Figures 1 and 2 show the base assembly upon which different sub-assemblies may be mounted to fill containers such as cans or bottles with fluent material by various types of operations. The containers can be filled by various types of operations such as by gravity, by

the use of pistons with the fluid being made available from a position above the cans or by the use of pistons with the fluid being made available from a position within the cans. The base assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes an annular casing 10 which is open at its top end. The casing 10 is secured at its bottom end as by bolts 12 to a plurality of spaced pedestals 14 having tapped sockets. The pedestals 14 are disposed at spaced positions around the periphery of the casing 10 to provide a firm support for the casing.

Legs 16 are provided with threaded portions at their upper ends so that the legs can be screwed into the tapped sockets of the pedestals 14. The legs 16 are provided with flanges at their lower ends to obtain an attachment of the legs to floors as by bolts 22. The positioning of the pedestals 14 and the casing 10 above the floor can be adjusted by varying the dispositions of the legs 16 in the tapped sockets of their associated pedestals 14.

An annular housing 24 is provided with a substantially cylindrical portion and with an annular flange portion 26 extending outwardly from the bottom of the cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion of the housing 24 has a tapped hole for receiving a plug 28 such that lubricant can be inserted into the housing when the set screw 1s removed. The flange portion 26 of the housing 24 is secured as by screws 30 to a lip portion extending inwardly from the top of the casing 10. The flange portion 26 is provided at its outer periphery with a plurality of bosses 32 spaced from one another at positions corresponding to the positions of the pedestals 14. The upper surfaces of the bosses 32 are milled to a high degree of smoothness for reasons which will be described in detail subsequently.

A shaft 34 is supported within the housing 24 at a pair of spaced positions and is disposed in rotatable relation ship with respect to the housing as by bearings 36. The shaft extends downwardly through the housing 24 to a position within the casing 10 and carries a bevel gear 38 on the portion of the shaft within the casing. The bevel gear 38 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 34 as by a key and set screw 39. An annular support member 40 is fixedly positioned as by a key and set screw 41 on the shaft 34 at the upper end of the shaft. The support member 40 is positioned above the top of the housing 24. A seal 46 is provided between the housing 24 and the support member 40.

Certain horizontal surfaces are provided on the sup port member 40 for purposes of holding other members. A flat surface 50 is provided on an annular rim portion 52 at the bottom of the support member 40 and is milled to a high degree of smoothness. Tapped holes 54 extend axially into the rim portion 52 at spaced intervals along the rim portion to hold members which will be described in detail subsequently. In like manner, a flat surface 56 is formed on an annular shoulder portion 58 at an intermediate position on the support member 40 in the axial direction. The surface 56 is milled to a high degree of smoothness. Tapped holes 60 extend axially into the shoulder portion 58 at spaced positions along the shoulder portion to hold members which will be described in detail subsequently.

A bevel gear 60 is in mesh with the bevel gear 38 at a position Within the casing 10 and is mounted as by a key and set screw 62 on a drive shaft 64. A bevel gear 66 is also fixedly carried on the shaft 64 at a position within an annular casing 68 which is open at the top end. The shaft 64 is supported at a pair of spaced positions within the casing 68 and is rotatable relative to the casing Within bearing sleeves 70 supported by the casing. The casing 68 is fixedly suspended from the casing 10 as by screws 72 (Figure 2).

A housing 78 and a cover plate 80 are attached as by screws 82 to a lip portion at the top of the casing 68. The plate 80 covers the top of the casing 68 and the bottom of the housing 78. The housing 78 is provided at its upper end with a flange portion 86 having an annular configuration. The upper face of the flange portion 86 is flat and is milled to a high degree of smoothness for reasons which will be described in detail subsequently. Tapped holes 88 extend into the flange portion 86 to receive screws for supporting other members which will be dmcribed in detail subsequently.

A shaft 99 is journalled into the cover plate 80 and the housing 73 at the upper end of the support member. The shaft 9% is rotatable within bearing sleeves 92. supported by the cover plate 30 and the housing 78. The shaft extends into the casing 68 at itslower end and carries at a position within the casing a bevel gear 94 which is in mesh with the bevel gear 66 so that shaft 90 is rotated oppositely with respect to shaft 34. The bevel gear 94 is fixedly positioned on the shaft 90 as by a key and set screw 95. At a position above the housing 78, the shaft 99 carries a sleeve 96. The sleeve 96 is fixedly positioned on the shaft Ftl as by a key and set screw 97. The sleeve 96 flares outwardly at its upper end to form a fiat surface 98 which is milled to a high degree of smoothness. Tapped holes 99 extend into the sleeve 96 to receive screws for holding other members which will be described in detail.

As the shaft 64 rotates, it drives the bevel gear 60 fixedly mounted on the shaft. Since the bevel gear 60 is in mesh with the bevel gear 38, it drives the bevel gear 38 so as to produce a rotation of the shaft 34. The shaft 34 in turn drives the support member 40 with respect to the housing 24. As will be described in detail subsequently, certain members are mounted on the support member 4t These members include conveyor apparatus for receiving containers such as cans to be filled and for moving the containers to an output station. The members also include a reservoir such as a tank for holding fluid and a plurality of valves for controlling the transfer of the fluid to the containers during the movement of the containers from the input station to the output station.

In addition to driving the bevel gear 6i), the shaft 64 drives the bevel gear 66. Since the bevel gear 66 is in mesh with the gear 94, it drives the gear 94 so as to produce a rotation of the shaft 90. The shaft 9% in turn drives the sleeve 96. By disposing conveyor apparatus on the sleeve the containers to be filled are able to be moved from an input station to a position for transfer to the conveyor apparatus mounted on the support member 4d. The containers are moved along a platform mounted on the flange portion 36 of the housing 78.

Piston type 0] filling operation from a top-fill position Figures 3 to 15, inclusive, show apparatus for filling containers with fluid by the depression of pistons, the filling operations being performed from a position above the containers. The filling apparatus shown in Figures 3 to 15, inclusive, is adapted to be mounted easily on the base assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2. and described fully above. As described previously, the base assembly includes the casings 10 and 68, the housings 24 and 78 and the various members supported by these structures.

The filling apparatus shown in Figures 3 to 15, inclusive, includes an annular bracket 100 (Figure 3) having a bottom flange portion which is supported as by screws 162 on the flat surface 56 of the shoulder portion 58 in the support member 40. The bracket 1% also has a top flange portion which supports an annular reservoir 1&4 such as a tank as by screws 1%. The reservoir 194 is adapted to hold a fluent material indicated at 107 in Figure 3 such that the material is able to be directed into cans. The fluent material may be a fluid or a mixture of solid pieces and a fluid.

, The bottom of the reservoir 104 slopes downwardly at a relativelyshallow incline toward the periphery of the container. A plurality of ports 108 (Figures 3, 6 and 7) are provided in the bottom of the reservoir 104 at spaced positions near the periphery of the reservoir. Bushings 169 are disposed within the ports 108 to receive spool portions of valve stems generally indicated at 110. The valve stems 110 are included in valves which will be described in detail subsequently. An annular top plate 112 having an open central portion is supported at the top of the reservoir 104 as by welding. Orifices 114 (best seen in Figure 10) are provided in the plate 112 at positions directly above the ports 108. Bushings 116 fit in the orifice 114 to guide the movements of the valve stems 110 which have a sliding fit therein.

A plurality of retainers 118 are suitably supported by the reservoir 1104 (Figures 3, 6 and 7) at positions below the reservoir and in sealed relationship to the reservoir. The retainers 118 have concave configurations to form compartments 120 with the bottom of the reservoir 104 for holding fluid introduced to the chambers from the reservoir. Each of the retainers 118 is positioned below a different one of the ports 10% and is itself provided with a port 122 at a position directly below the associated port 1%. Bushings 124 fit into the ports 122 to receive spool portions of the valve stems 119 in a manner similar to the bushings 109 in the ports 108. The bushings 124 are provided with an inner diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the bushings 1&9 and are illustrated as interiorly bevelled at their upper end as at 125.

The retainers 113 are open at their upper ends and are so shaped at their upper ends as to be separated from the reservoir 104. The compartments 120 formed be tween the reservoir 104 and the retainer 118 communicats with the open lower ends of cylinders 126, which are suitably supported on the retainers 118. A slot 128 extends downwardly in each of the cylinders 126 from the upper edge of the cylinder to a position intermediate the upper and lower edges of the cylinder.

Stanchions 13h (Figures 3 and 5) are attached as by the bolts 31 to the bosses 32, which extend upwardly from the flange portion 26 of the housing 24 in a manner similar to that described above. Uprights 132 in turn extend vertically from reinforced portions 133 at upper peripheral positions in the stanchions 130. The up rights 132 in turn support an annular ring 134 at an intermediate position along their vertical length.

A support member 136 (Figure 3) is fixedly positioned above the ring 134 as by spacers 138 and studs 140 extending through the support members, the spacers and the ring. The support member 136 in turn holds in fixed positioning a track generally indicated at 142 (Figures 3, 4, 6, 7 and 12). The track 142 surrounds the reservoir 1114 and includes a guide member 144 (best seen in Figure 12) lying adjacent to the cylinders 126. As shown in Figure 12., the guide member 144 rises in a shallow incline through almost half of its length and descends at a corresponding angle through almost the other half of its length. Between the rising and declining portions of the guide member 144 is a horizontal portion of relatively short length, as indicated at 145 in Figure 12.

The guide member 144 does not extend through an annular path of substantially 360 degress but has itsopposite ends separated by a moderate distance at a position near the top of its travel path. The opposite ends of the guide member 144 are joined by a bar 146 suitably attached as by welds to lateral positions on the opposite ends of the guide member 144. A stud 148 (best seen in Figure 15) extends through the bar 146 and through a spacer 150 suitably attached as by a weld to an annular collar 152. The collar 152 has a tapped hole extending in an axial direction to receive a threaded portionv on the stud 148 near the head of the stud. The stud 148 and the collar 152 respectively have winged portions 154 and 155 (best seen in Figures 13 and 15) to facilitate- 7 manual gripping. A bushing 156 is positioned between the collar 152 and the head of the stud 148-.

In addition to the members described in the previous paragraph, the stud 148 carries an eccentric cam 160 at the end of its shank. The eccentric cam 160 is fixedly positioned on the stud 148 as by a pin 162 (Figure 15). The pin 162 extends into the shank portion of the stud 148 and has a collar which presses against the cam 160 to prevent rotary movements of the cam relative to the stud. The cam 160 is positioned below a runner 164 and is in engagement with the runner to control the pivotal disposition of the runner relative to a pin 166. The pin 166 extends through the bar 146 and screws into a socket in the runner 164.

At one end, the runner 164 (Figures 13 and 14) has a finger 168 which extends into a recess in the guide member 144 to provide a continuity with the guide member for the movement of control means such as rollers 170 (Figures 3, 6, 7 and 12), as will be described in detail subsequently. The finger 168 forms an extension on the runner 164 of a first portion which is inclined at a shallow angle relative to a horizontal plane. The runner 164 also has a second portion extending in a substantially horizontal direction and a third portion sloped downwardly at a steeper angle than the inclination of the first portion. A finger 172 (Figures 13 and 14) extends from the third portion of the runner 164 into a recess in the guide member 144 to provide a continuity for the movement of the rollers moving on the track 142.

A guide track 174 (Figure 12) is suitably supported by the ring 134 at a position directly above the track 142. The exact manner in which the guide track 174 is supported by the ring 134 is not shown in the drawings but a suitable arrangement can be made by a person skilled in the art. The guide track 174 has an annular configuration and has an angular length of approximately 180 degrees. The guide track 174 is substantially parallel to the guide member 144 of the track 142 along the declining portion of the guide member. At its upper end, the guide track 174 is inclined for a relatively short distance at a steeper angle than the inclination of the remaining portion of the track so that the track will guide the rollers 170 with optimum efficiency for a posi tioning of the rollers on the guide members 144. The guide track 174 is separated from the guide member 144 by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the rollers 176 in order to obtain a free movement of the rollers on the guide member.

Brackets 178 (Figure 3) are carried by the uprights 132 at the upper end of the uprights and in fixed positioning on the uprights. The brackets 178 extend inwardly from the uprights 132 and in turn carry extension arms 1811 at their inner ends as by screws 182. A guide track 184 is disposed at the inner end of the extension arms 18%) at a position almost directly above the side wall of the reservoir 104. As may be best seen in Figures 3 and 12, the guide track 184 is disposed in substantially a horizontal plane along most of its angular length. The horizontal portion of the guide track 184 is positioned above the declining and horizontal portions of the guide member 144 and above the portion of the guide member at which the inclination starts to occur. The guide track 184 has a portion 186 (Figure 12) which rises at a relatively steep angle from a position below the horizontal portion of the track and which meets the horizontal portion of the track at the beginning of the horizontal portion in the direction of movement of the various members.

A guideway 188 (best seen in Figure 12) is suitably supported by the extension arms 188 (Figure 3) at a position adjacent to the end of the track 184 opposite from the inclined portion 186. The guide way 188 has a first horizontal portion disposed above the track 184 by a distance slightly greater than the diameters of control means such as rollers 190 adapted to ride on the guide track. The guide way 188 also has a second portion which extends downwardly from the horizontal portion at a relatively sharp angle. The second portion of the guide way 188 extends downwardly to a position below the guide track 184 for reasons which will be described in detail subsequently. The second portion of the guide Way 188 is separated from the end of the guide track 184 by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the rollers 190.

The rollers 191) are positioned at spaced intervals corresponding to the orifices 114 (best seen in Figure 10) in the top plate 112 and are provided with annular peripheries for rolling movements on the guide track 184. The rollers 190 are loosely carried on pins 192 (Figures 9 and 10) which have threaded portions for screwing into tapped holes at one end of drive rods 194. At their other end, the drive rods 194 are pivotably attached to brackets 196 as by pins 198, each of which has a threaded portion for screwing into a tapped hole in its associated bracket. The brackets 196 are in turn attached to the top plate 112 as by studs 268 (Figure 9).

At an intermediate position along its length, each drive rod 194 has a slot 202 (Figures 10 and 11). A first portion of each slot 202 extends downwardly in a direction approaching the vertical and a second portion of each slot 282 extends toward the adjacent bracket 196 in a direction approaching the horizontal. The horizontal portion of each slot 282 receives a guide pin 204 which extends horizontally outwardly from an annular guide portion 266 at the top of the valve stem 1111.

A spindle portion 210 extends downwardly from the guide portion 206 of each valve stem 111). At its bottom end, each valve stem has an annular spool portion 212 (best seen in Figures 6 and 7) with a diameter for obtaining a snug fit of the spool portion within a diiferent bushing 109 at the bottom of the reservoir 184. The spool portion 212 of each valve stem 110 is inclined at its upper and lower ends at a moderate angle with respect to a horizontal direction to provide a gradual closure of the associated parts 109 and 124. At its upper end, the spool portion 212 of each valve stem 116 is provided with a pair of spaced notches 214 (Figures 7 and 8) to further prevent an instantaneous closure of its associated port 1108 upon an upward movement of the piston.

Just as the rollers 196 are provided with annular configurations to roll along the guide track 184, the rollers 170 are provided with annular configurations to roll along the guide member 144 and the runner 164. The rollers 1711 are carried on pins 216 (best seen in Figure 6) for rotary movement relative to the pins. The pins 216 extend through the rollers 171i and guide bars 218 into pistons 228 for fixed positioning in the pistons as by set screws 222. The pistons 220 fit snugly within the cylinders 126 and move upwardly or downwardly in the cylinders in accordance with the movements of the rollers 170 on the guide member 144. The movements of the pistons 226 in the cylinders 126 in any direction other than the vertical direction are limited by disposing the bars 218 in the slots 128 in the cylinders.

At its upper end at an interior position, each of the stanchions 130 has a fiat table portion 226 (Figure 3) for supporting a platform 228 in a substantially horizontal plane. The platform 228 is also supported on the upper surface of the housing '78 as by studs 230 so as to form an extension of the horizontal plane produced by the disposition of the platform on the table portions 226 of the stanchions 138. The platform 228 is adapted to support containers 232 for movement on the platform in a path which will be described in detail subsequently.

An annular support plate 234 is mounted as by studs 236 on the flat surface 50 of the rim portion 52 at the bottom of the support member 40 The support plate 234 in turn carries a substantially annular feed star 238 at its periphery as by studs 240. The feed star 238 is positioned at an intermediate distance along the height geodet c ofthe containers 232 and at a position contiguous to the containers. As best seen in Figure 5, the feed star 238 has a plurality of pockets 242 at spacedintervals along its periphery. Each of the pockets 242 in the feed star '238 has a depth corresponding substantially to the diameter of the containers 232. Each of the pockets 242 also has at an interior position a portion 244 with a semiannular configuration corresponding to that of the containers 232 to obtain a snug fit of the containers in the pockets. Each of the pockets 242 also has a widened mouth portion to facilitate the movement of the containers 232 into and out of the pocket.

The feed star 238 cooperates with an annular feed star 246 (Figures 3 and 5) to control the movements of the containers 232 along the platform 228. The feed star 246 is mounted on the flat surface 98 of the sleeve 96 as by studs 247 extending through the plate into the tapped holes in the sleeve. The feed star 246 is provided with pockets 248 (best seen in Figure 5) at its periphery at spaced intervals corresponding to the separation between the pockets 242 in the feed star 238. The pockets 248 are provided with substantially semi-annular configurations corresponding to those previously described in detail for the pockets 242.

Guide rails 258 and 252 (Figures 3 and 5) are attached to the platform 228 as by brackets 253. The guide rails 250 and 252 are positioned above the platform 228 at an intermediate distance along the height of the containers 232. The guide rail 258 extends forwardly along the platform 228 in a substantially linear direction as best seen in Figure 5. The guide rail 252 has a first portion whichis substantially parallel to the rail 250 at a distance from the rail 250 corresponding substantially to the diameter of the containers 232. The guide rail 252 also has a second portion disposed in a semi-annular configuration at a distance from the interior of the pockets 248 in the feed star 246 corresponding substantially to the diameter of the containers 232.

A guide rail 254 (Figures 3 and 5) has a first portion which extends in an annular direction around the periphery of the feed star 238 from a position contiguous to the feed star 246. The first portion of the guide rail 254 is disposed in abutting relationship to the periphery of the feed star 238. The guid rail 254 also has a second portion which extends laterally along the plaform 228 in a substantially linear direction at a forward position on the platform. The second portion of the guide rail 254 is substantially perpendicular to the guide rail 250. The guide rail 254 is attached to the platform 228 as by brackets 256.

A guide rail 258 is substantially parallel to the second portion of the guide rail 254 at a distance from the guide rail 254 corresponding to the diameter of the containers 232. An endless conveyor belt 260 normally forming a part of coupled equipment, such as machinery for closing the containers 232 extends along the platform 228 between the guide rails 254 and258 to receive the containers 232 from the rotary plate 238 and to move the containers to such machinery. The conveyor belt 250 is illustrated as having upwardly protruding teeth 262 for engaging the containers 232 and for advancing the containers in properly spaced relationship to one another.

As the drive shaft 64 rotates, it drives the shaft 90' through the bevel gears 66 and 94 (Figure 3). Since the sleeve 96is mounted on the shaft 90, it rotates with the shaft in a clockwise direction in Figure 5 and carries the feed star 246 with it. As the feed star 246 rotates, each of the pockets 248 in the feed star moves past the passageway formed between the guide rails 250 and 252 and receives one of the containers 232 from the passageway. The containers 232 are moved toward the feed star 246 along the passageway defined by the guide rails 250 and 252 by suitable apparatus (not shown). The containers rest on the platform 228 during this movement.

' When the containers 232 become transferred into the 'pockets 248 formed in the feed star 246, the containers. move in a clockwise direction in Figure 5 in accordance with the movements of the feed star. The containers232 are retained in fixed position within the pockets 248 of the feed star 246 because of the disposition of the guide rail 252 around the annular periphery of the feed plate. After the containers 232 have rotated with the feed star 246 through substantially one half of a revolution, the containers reach the feed star 238.

The feed star 238 rotates in a counterclockwise direction in Figure 5 at a speed synchronized with the rotary movements of the feed star 246 since it is driven by the shaft 64 through the bevel gears 60' and 38 (Figure 3). Because of the synchronization in the movements of the feed stars 238 and 246, the pockets 242 in the feed star 238 become aligned with successive pockets 248 in the feed star 246 at the position of contiguity between the feed stars. This may be best seen in Figure 5. By properly shaping the pockets 242 in the feed star 238 and the pockets 248 in the feed star 246, the containers 232 in the pockets 248 can. become transferred to the pockets 242 for subsequent movement with the feed star 238.

Upon a transfer of the containers .232 to the pockets 242 in the feed star 238, the containers become fixedly positioned in the pockets because of the action of the guide rail 254 on the containers. This causes the containers 232 to follow the movements of the feed star 238 so that they subsequently reach the endless conveyor belt 260. The teeth 262 on the conveyor belt 260 then engage the containers 232 and carry the containers toward the output station (not specifically shown) in accordance with the movements of the belt. The containers are fixedly positioned on the belt 260 because of their engagement by the teeth 262 and because of their disposition between the guide rails 254 and 258.

During the movement of the containers 232 with the feed star 238, the containers become filled with the fluid 107 in the reservoir 104. This results from the operation of certain valve members as will be described in detail subsequently. The operation of one group of valve members is controlled by the movements of the rollers 190 on the guide track 184. As may be best seen in Figure 12 and as previously described in detail, the guide track 184 is positioned in a horizontal plane for an angular distance of approximately 180 degrees. The rollers 190 become positioned on the horizontal portion of the guide track 184 because of the operation of the inclined portion 186 of the track in directing the rollers upwardly to the horizontal portions of the rollers. At the end of their movement along the horizontal portion of the guide track 184, the rollers 190 are quickly guided to a position below the horizontal portion of the guide track. The rollers 190 move to a position below the horizontal portion of the guide track 1 84 since they are directed downwardly by the guideway 188.

As the rollers 190 move upwardly or downwardly, they carry the drive rods 194 (best seen in Figure 10) with them. This causes the drive rods 194 to pivot on the pins 198 (Figures 9, 10 and 11) as fulcrums such that the rods rise and fall at an intermediate position in accordance with the movements of the cams. Since the guide pins 204 extend into the slots 202 in the drive rods 194, the rods 194 drive the pins and the valve stems from which the pins extend. Because of this coupled relationship, the valve stems 110 move upwardly and downwardly in accordance with the movements of the rollers 190 in the vertical direction.

When the valve stems 110 move downwardly into the position shown in Figure 7, the spool portions 212 at the bottom of the valve stems move into positions within the bushings 124 to seal the ports 122. By sealing the ports 122, any fluent material in the compartments is prevented from passing through the ports into the containers 232 positioned below the ports. .At the same time that the ports 122 are sealed against the passage of fluent material, the ports 108 are opened for the passage of the fluent material into the compartments 120 and into the portions of the cylinder 126 below the pistons 220.

After the compartments 120 and the portions of the cylinders 126 below the pistons 220 have become filled with fluent material, the rollers 190 start to move upwardly along the inclined portion 186 of the guide track 184 in Figure 12. This causes the spool portions 212 of the valve stems 110 to move upwardly such that the ports 122 become opened for the flow of fluent material out of the ports. At the same time that the ports 122 become opened, the ports 108 become closed to prevent any further flow of fluent material from occurring from the reservoir 104 into the compartments 120. In this way, only a measured amount of the fluent material 107 from the compartment 106 is able to flow into each of the containers 232.

By providing the guide track 184 and the guideway 188 with proper configurations (best seen in Figure 12) and by properly shaping the spool portions 212 of the valve stems 110, the ports 108 and 122 become opened without any turbulence or spattering of the fluent material during the flow of the material. The inclined portion 186 of the guide track 184 and the guideway 188 are provided with the proper slopes to produce a movement of the rollers 190 into or out of sealing relationship with the ports 108 and 122 at the proper speeds. The notches 214 prevent simultaneous closure of ports 108 and 122.

The flow of fluent material into or out of the compartments 120 is facilitated by the action of the pistons 220 (best seen in Figures 6, 7 and 12). The movements of the pistons 220 are controlled by the movements of the rollers 170 along the guide member 144. As the rollers 170 roll upwardly along the inclined portion of the guide member 144 in Figure 12, they carry the pistons 220 upwardly because of the connections of the rollers to the pistons through the pins 216 in Figure 6. The movements of the rollers 170 along the guide member 144 can be converted into only vertical movements of the pistons 220 since the guide bars 218 (Figure 6) are positioned within the slots 128 in the piston cylinders 126 to limit the movements of the pistons in directions other than the vertical.

As will be best seen in Figure 12, the rollers 170 move upwardly along the guide member 144 during the time that the rollers 190 are in their depressed position. This causes the pistons 220 to move upwardly in the cylinders 126 at the time that the fluent material 107 is flowing into the compartments 120 from the reservoir 104. The gradual movement of the pistons 220 in an upward direction duringthis time helps to produce an even flow of fluent material into the compartments 120 so that air pockets cannot be created in the fluid. This is important in insuring that a proper amount of fluent material subsequently flows into each of the containers 232.

As previously described, the ports 108 become closed and the ports 122 become opened when the rollers 1190 move upwardly along the inclined portion 186 of the guide track 184. This causes the fluent material 107 in the compartments 120 to flow into the containers 232 and prevents any further fluent material from flowing into the compartments from the reservoir 104. At the time that the fluent material in the compartments 120 starts to flow into the containers 232, the rollers 170 associated with the compartments start to move down the declining portion of the guide member 144. This may be best seen in Figure 12. I

Since the pistons 220 follow the downward movement of the rollers 170, the pistons move downwardly as the fluent material in the compartment 120 flows into the containers 232. This causes the pistons 220 to exerta substantially constant pressure on the fluent material so 12 V as to drive the fluent material at an even rate of flow into the containers 232. This tends to further minimize the creation of air pockets in the fluent material 107 as it flows into the. containers 232. By synchronizing the downward movements of the pistons 220 with the open ing of the ports 122, the pistons 220' are able to produce a flow into the containers 232 of heavy liquids and even of certain semi-solids and powdered solids or solids formed from fine or broken pieces of material.

The amount of fluent material flowing into the compartments and into the portions of the cylinders 126 below the pistons 220 is dependent upon the stroke of the pistons. When the stroke of the pistons 220 in the cylinders 126 is increased, the space in the cylinders below the pistons becomes correspondingly increased at the end of the upward movements of the pistons. This causes an increased amount of fluent material to flow into the compartments 120 and into the portions of the cylinders 126 below the pistons 220. Upon a decrease in the stroke of the pistons 220, a corresponding decrease is obtained in the amount of fluent material flowing into the compartments 120 and into the portions of the cylinders 126 below the pistons.

The stroke of the pistons 220 can be controlled by the members shown in Figures 13 to 15, inclusive, and described fully above. The adjustment can be made by first loosening the collar 152 on the stud 148 and manually rotating the stud. The stud 148 can be easily rotated since the winged portion 154 can be gripped to apply a torque. The cam rotates with the stud 148 as the stud is turned since the cam is fixedly positioned relative to the stud as by the screw 162.

Since the cam 160 is eccentric, it acts upon the runner 164 to produce a vertical movement of the runner at the right end of the runner in Figure 14. The runner 164 pivots on the pin 166 as the right end of the runner in Figure 14 moves in a vertical direction. This causes the height of the runner 164 above the adjacent portions of the guide member 144 to become correspondingly adjusted. After a proper adjustment in the height of the runner 164 has been made, the collar 152 is tightened on the stud 148 to lock the stud and the cam 160 in fixed position.

By producing a pivotal movement of the runner 164, the height of the runner above the adjacent portions of the guide member 144 can be adjusted without interrupting the continuity between the guide member and the runner. This is important in producing an uninterrupted movement of the rollers 170 as they move between the guide member 144 and the runner 164. The continuity in the movement of the rollers 170 is also obtained by providing the runner 164 with rising, horizontal and declining portions and by disposing the fingers 168 and 172 at the ends of the runner.

Various other members can be used to obtain simple and easy controls over the filling operation. For ex ample, when relatively tall containers 232 are used, the bracket 100 (Figure 3) mounted on the rim portion 52 of the support member 40 may have an increased height so that the bottom of the reservoir 104 may clear the tops of the containers. In like manner, the bracket 100 may have a relatively short height when the containers 232 are relatively short.

Containers 232 of different volume can also be filled by adjusting the stroke of the pistons 220. The stroke of the pistons 220 may be adjusted by replacing the guide member 144 with another guide member having a diiferent slope in its inclined and declining portions than the slope shown in Figure 12 for the member 144. By providing a guide member 144 with portions of diflerent slopes than those shown in Figure 12, the pistons 220 move upwardly a different distance so that a difierent amount of fluent material can be moved into the space in the cylinders 126 below the pistons. In this way, containers having different volumes can be filled.

,.,The containers 232 can be filled accurately to a desired level by adjusting the positioning of the eccentric cam 160. This causes the height of the runner 164 to become correspondingly varied and the stroke of the pistons 220 to become correspondingly adjusted. Since the stroke of the pistons 220 can be adjusted, the amount of fluent material flowing into the portion of the cylinders 126 below the pistons can be correspondingly varied. By this arrangement, the adjustment in the vertical height of the runner 164 provides a sensitive variation as to the amount of fluent material flowing into the containers 232.

Controls may also be provided by the support plate 234 (Figure 3) and the guide plate 238. For example, when a new filling operation is initiated with containers 232 of a difierent diameter than previously used, the support plate 234 and the feed star 238 may be easily replaced with a new support plate and a new guide plate to conform to the diameter of the new containers. The new support plate 234 and the new feed star 238 may be easily mounted on the support member 40 by first removing the studs 236 to remove the plate 234 and the feed star 238 previously being used and by subsequently inserting the studs after the new plate and feed star have been properly positioned for use.

The apparatus described above has certain other important advantages. These advantages include the construction of the valve stems 110 (Figures 6 and 7) and their associate valve members. By supporting each of the valve stems 110 at a pair of spaced positions such as at the guide portions 206 and the spool portions 212, a linear movement of the valve stems in a vertical direction is insured. This is important in obtaining proper opening and closing of the ports such as the ports 108 and 122 (best seen in Figure 6).

The valve stems 110 are also advantageous in that they wipe clean the annular surfaces of the bushings 109 in each stroke of the valve stems so that fluent material cannot solidify on the surfaces and jam the operation of the filling apparatus. The wiping action of the spool portions 212 is also important in preventing such material as sugar from caking on the surfaces of the bushings 109.

The configuration of the valve stems 110 is advantageous from another standpoint. As previously described, the guide portions 206 on the valve stems 110 have a slightly greater diameter than the spool portions 212. Because of this, the valve stems 110 can be easily lifted out of the reservoir 104. This is important when it is desired to clean the valve stems 110 in a minimum amount of time so that the filling operation will not be unduly interrupted.

The valve stems 110 can be easily detached from their coupled relationship to the drive rods 194 (Figures 9, 10 and 11) when it is desired to remove the pistons from their positioning within the reservoir 104. The valve stems 110 can be easily removed by lifting them in the slots 202 of the drive rods 194. The relationship of the valve stems 110 to the drive rods 194 in a partially re moved disposition of the pistons can be seen in Figure 11.

The apparatus shown in Figures 3 to 15, inclusive, and described fully above is advantageous for another reason of considerable importance. This results from. the fact that certain sub-assemblies can be easily attached to the base assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 when a piston-type of filling operation from a position above the containers 232 is desired. For example, a first subassembly can include the bracket 100, the reservoir 104, the retainers 118, the piston cylinders 126, the valve stems, the pistons 220, the rollers 170 and 190, the support plate 234 and the feed star 238. A second subassembly can include the stanchions 130, the uprights 132, the ring 134, the track 142, the brackets 178, the extension arms 180 and the guide track 184.

The two sub-assemblies described in the previous paragraph can be stored until such time as a piston-fill type of operation from a top-fill position is desired. The sub assemblies can then be removed from storage and quickly secured to the base assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 in the proper relationship of the various members described fully above. The first sub-assembly described in the previous paragraph can be quickly attached to the base assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 by attaching the bracket as by the screws 102 to the shoulder portion 58 of the support member 40. In like manner, the second sub-assembly described in the previous paragraph can be quickly attached to the base assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 by attaching the stanchions 130 as by the screws 31 (Figure l) to the bosses 32 on the flange portion 26 of the housing 24. After the filling operation has been completed, the sub-assemblies can be easily removed from the base assembly by removing the screws 31 and 102.

It should be appreciated that the containers 232 are filled on a sequential basis. This may be best seen in Figure 12, which shows all of the containers 232 moving angularly with the feed star 230 at one particular instant. For purposes of illustration, the compartments are shown in Figure 12 as being filled from the second through seventh positions where the count of positions is made from the left. The filling of the containers 232 is shown in Figure 12 as occurring from the eighth through thirteenth positions where the count of positions is made from the left.

Piston type of filling operation from a bottom fill position The apparatus shown in Figures 16 to 20, inclusive, is adapted to fit on the base assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 and described fiully above so as to perform an operation known by persons skilled in the art as a piston type of filling operation from a position below the tops of the containers being filled. The filling apparatus shown in Figures 16 to 20, inclusive, is adapted to be mounted easily on the base assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 and described fully above. As described previously, the base assembly includes the casings 10 and 66, the housings 24 and 78, the drive shaft 64 and the various members supported by these structures.

The filling apparatus shown in Figures 16 to 20, inelusive, includes an annular casing 300 mounted on the flat surface 50 of the rim portion 52 at the bottom of the support member 40. The casing 300 extends downwardly from the support member 40 to enclose the housing 24. At its bottom end, the casing 300 has a flange portion 302. Guide posts 304 (best seen in Figure 18) are supported in an upright position by the flange portion 302 of the casing 300 at spaced positions along the annular length of the flange portion. Lifters 306 are slidable on the posts 304. At a position near the bottom of the lifters 306, the lifters have lobe portions 308 which are provided with tapped holes to receive support pins 310. The pins 310 carry control means such as rollers 312 for rotary movement relative to the pins. The lifters .306 and the rollers 308 may be prevented from rotating on the posts 304 by apparatus similar to that shown in Figure 25 This apparatus may include tongue portions extending from the columns 306 and yoked at their outer ends to receive pins which extend upwardly from the casing 300.

At their upper ends, the lifters 306 have flange portions for suitably supporting pedestals 314 (best seen in Figures l8 and 19) as by bolts 316. Pins 313 (Figure 18) may be positioned in sockets in the pedestals 314 and in the flange portions of the lifters 306 to align the pedestals with the lifters. A feed star 320' is positioned above the pedestals 314 and is separated from the pedestals by spacers 322. The feed star 320 and the spacers 322 are attached to the pedestals 314 as by screws 324.

The feed star 320 is provided with pockets 326 (Figure 17) for holding containers 328. The pockets 326 are provided with annular configurations at their inner ends to receive the containers 328 snugly within the pockets.

The pockets 328 are also provided with cut-away portions at their peripheries so that the containers 328 can be easily transferred into the pockets for movement with the feed star 320.

A threaded support tube 330 (Figures 16 and 17) has a flange portion which is positioned on the shoulder 58 of the support member 40 and which is attached to the support member as by screws. A sleeve 332 having a tapped hole is adapted to be screwed on the threaded periphery of the support member 330. The sleeve 332 is slitted along its axial length and ears 334 are projected outwardly from the slitted ends of the sleeve. A bolt 336 (Figure 17 extends through holes in the ears 334 of the sleeve 332 to clamp the ears and maintain the sleeve in fixed position on the support tube 330.

At its upper end, the sleeve 332 is provided with an annular flange portion which supports the reservoir 104 for holding fluent material 337 (Figure 16) such as fluid. As previously described, the reservoir 184 is provided with the ports 108 at spaced positions in the bottom of the reservoir. The retainers 118 are supported by the reservoir 104 and are provided with the ports 122 in a manner similar to that described above. The cylinders 126 extend upwardly from the retainers 118 in a manner similar to that described above.

The ports 122 in the retainers 118 are tapped to re ceive threaded portions at the top of elongated sleeves 348. The sleeves 348 extend downwardly toward the cans 328 and have annular neck portions 350 at their lower ends. The portions of the sleeves 348 just above the neck portions 358 may be tapered for reasons which will be described in detail subsequently. The retainers 118 and the sleeves 348 cooperate to form compartments 344 (best seen in Figures 18 and 19).

Support bars 354 are attached as by bolts to the upper surfaces of the bosses 32 of the housing 24. The support bars 354 extend outwardly in a substantially hori zontal direction from the bosses 32 of the housing 24 and hold stanchions 356 in fixed position at their outer end. The stanchions 356 extend upwardly from the support bars 354. At an intermediate position along their vertical length, the stanchions 356 support the annular ring 134 also shown in Figure 3. The track 142 and the various members forming the track are supported by the ring 134 in a manner similar to that described above. The guide track 184 and the guide way 188 are also included in the embodiment shown in Figures 16 to inclusive.

The rollers 170 are adapted to roll along the track 144. The rollers 170 are suitably attached to the pistons 220 disposed in the piston cylinders 126. In like manner, the rollers 190 move on the track 184. The rollers 190 are coupled to valve stems 384 through members corresponding to those shown in Figures 9 to 11, inclusive, and described fully above so as to produce vertical movements of the valve stems in accordance with the vertical movements of the cams.

The valve stems 384 have a configuration through most of their lengths corresponding to the configurations of the valve stems 110 in the embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 15, inclusive. For example, spool portions 386 (best seen in Figures 18 and 19) corresponding to the spool portions 212 on the valve stems 110 are provided at positions near the bottoms of the valve stems 384. The spool portions 386 on the valve stems 384 are adapted to close the ports 108 in the reservoir 104 in one position of the valve stems. However, the spool portions 386 on the valve stems 384 are not adapted to close the ports 122 in the retainers 118 in any position of the valve stems. The valve stems 384 also have spindle portions 388 which extend downwardly from the spool portions 386 through a distance approximating the axial lengths of the sleeves 348. Spool portions 398 are provided near the bottom of the spindle portions 388 to close the neck portions 350 of the sleeve 348 in one position of the valve stems. The

spool portions have a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the spool portions 386 so that the valve stems can be easily lifted out of the reservoir 104. The bottom surfaces of the spool portions 390 may be tapered at an angle corresponding to the taper of the sleeve 348 just above the neck portion 350 so as to insure the full closure of the sleeve at the neck portion.

Brackets 392 (Figure 16) are mounted as by bolts on the support bars 354. The brackets 392 extend upwardly from the support bars 354 and hold at their upper end a guide track 394. The rollers 312 are adapted to roll on the guide track 394. As best seen in Figure 20, the guide track 394 has a first portion inclined at a relatively steep angle and a second portion sloping downwardly at a relatively shallow angle. The inclined portion of the guide track 394 is positioned almost directly below the inclined portion of the guide track 184. The downwardly sloping portion of the guide track 394 may terminate at a vertical level corresponding substantially to the initial position of the inclined portion on the guide track. The angular length of the guide track 394 may be slightly greater than degrees.

The feed star 246 is mechanically coupled to the sleeve 96 in a manner similar to that described above to control the movements of the container on a platform 398. The feed star 246 rotates with the sleeve 96 and receives in its pockets the containers 328 being moved toward the feed star from the input station (not shown). The transfer of the containers 328 to the pockets in the feed star 246 is obtained in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 5 and described fully above. The feed star 246 then moves the containers 328 through approximately half of a revolution of the feed star to a position contiguous to the pedestals 314.

The feed star 320 rotates in synchronization with the feed star 246 since they are both driven through bevel gears from the main shaft 64. Because of this synchronization in the movements of the feed stars 320 and 246, the pockets 326 in the feed star 320 become aligned with the pockets in the feed star 246 as the feed stars rotate. By properly shaping the pockets 326 in the feed star 320, the containers 328 become transferred from the platform 398 to the pedestals 314 during the rotary movements of the guide plates 320 and 246.

As previously described, the pedestals 314 are mounted on lifters 306 (best seen in Figure 18), which are in turn slidable on the posts 304. The lifters 306 also carry the rollers 312, which are adapted to roll on the guide track 394 (Figures 16 and 20). Because of this relationship, the lifters 306 move upwardly along the posts 304 at a rapid rate as the rollers 312 reach the inclined portion of the guide track 394 (best seen in Figure 20). The lifters 306 then move downwardly along the posts 304 at a relatively slow rate as the rollers 312 move along the downwardly sloped portion of the guide track 394. The lifters. 306 remain in their depressed position as the rollers 312 move angularly between the end of the downwardly sloped portion on the guide track 394 and the beginning of the upwardly sloped portion on the track. Since the pedestals 314 follow the movements of the lifters 306, the pedestals initially move upwardly at a rapid rate, then downwardly at a relatively slow rate and finally remain in a depressed position during each complete revolution of these members.

As may be best seen in Figure 20, the pedestals 314 remain in their depressed position during the time that the valve stems 384 are in their depressed positions. The valve stems 384 are in their depressed positions at these times since the valve stems are coupled to the rollers and since the rollers are forced into a depressed position by the action of the guide track 188. Because of the disposition of the valve stems 384 in a depressed relationship, the spool portions 390 on the valve stems close the neck portions 350' at the bottom of the sleeves 348. This prevents any fluent material in the compartments 17 344 from passing through the sleeves 348 into the containers 328. The closure of the neck portions 350 on the sleeves 348 is insured because of the taper provided on the bottom of the spool portions and the corresponding taper on the portions of the spool portions above the neck portions 350.

At the same time that the neck portions 350 become closed by the disposition of the valve stems 384 in a depressed state, theports 108 in the reservoir 104 become opened, as best seen in Figure 18. This causes the fluent material 337 in the reservoir 104 to start flowing through the ports 108 into the compartments 344 and into the space in the cylinders 126 below the pistons 220. As the fluent material 337 starts to flow, the rollers 170 start to roll upwardly along the inclined portion of the track 142 (best seen in Figure 20) so as to withdraw the pistons 220 upwardly in the cylinders 126. By moving the pistons 220 upwardly in the cylinders 126 as the fluent material starts to flow through the ports 108 in the reservoir 104, an even flow of fluent material into the compartments 344 is obtained to minimize turbulence and the creation of air pockets in the fluent material in the compartments.

The pistons 220 become withdrawn upwardly during the time that the pedestals 314 and the valve stems 384 remain depressed, as may be best seen in Figure 20. At substantially the end of the time that the pedestals 314 and the valve stems 384 remain depressed, the pistons 220 reach their topmost position in the cylinders 126. This causes a maximum amount of fluent material to be stored in the compartments 344 and in the space in the cylinders 126 below the pistons 220. The amount of fluent material stored in this space can be varied by adjusting the height of the runner 164 in a manner similar to that described above for the embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 15, inclusive.

After a maximum amount of fluent material has flowed from the reservoir 104 into the compartments 344, the rollers 190 start to move upwardly along the inclined portion of the guide track 184. This causes the valve stems 384 to move upwardly such that the ports 108 become closed (best seen in Figure 19) to prevent any further flow of the fluent material 337from the reservoir 104 into the compartments 344. At the same time, the neck portions 350 in the sleeves 348 become opened for a flow of fluent material from the compartments 344 into the containers 328. It will be appreciated that the term fluent material includes material of any viscosity and also includes liquids holding solid particles or chunks.

At an instant before the fluent material 337 starts to flow from the compartments 344 into the containers 328, the pedestals 314 become raised by the movement of the rollers 312 along the inclined portion of the guide track 394 (best seen in Figure 20). Since the pedestals 314 become quickly raised to a maximum height, the containers 328 resting onthe pedestals become raised to a position where the sleeves 348 protrude a considerable distance into the containers, as shown best in Figures 19 and 20 This causes the fluent material flowing through the neck portions 350 of the sleeves 348 to drop only a relatively small distance between the sleeves and the bottom of the containers 328. This tends to minimize spattering of the fluent material for the prevention of waste, especially when the material is a thin liquid. it also tends to minimize the creation of turbulence and of air pockets in the fluent material as the material flows into the containers 328. This is especially true of liquids which flow freely.

As the fluent material flows into the containers 328, the rollers 1512 move downwardly along the declining portion of the guide track 394 (best seen in Figure 20). The rollers 312 in turn drive the pedestals 314 downwardly. Since the containers 328 move downwardly with the pedestals 314, thecontainers become withdrawn from the sleeves 348' as the level of the fluent material rise in the containers. Because of this, the distance through which the'fluent material 337 has to drop from the neck portions 358 of the sleeves 348 to the fluent material in the containers 3Z8 remains substantially constant even with rises in the level of the fluent material in the containers. During the flow of fluid from the reservoir 104 into the compartments 344, the rollers roll downwardly along the declining portion of the guide member 144. Since the pistons 220 are coupled to the rollers 170, the pistons are forced downwardly by the rollers during the flow of the fluent material. In this way, the pistons 220'are positioned in the cylinders 126 at all times to press against the fluent material so as to insure a movement of the fluent material into the containers 328. This may be especially important when the fluent material is a heavy liquid or a solid formed from particles or pieces of material. For example, for such materials as sticky fluids and pastes which do not flow easily, the downward movement of the pistons 220 may be necessary to force the fluent material into the container 328.

Itshould be appreciated that the containers 328 are filled on a sequential basis. This may be best seen in Figure 20, which shows all of the containers 328 moving angularly with the feed star 320 at one particular instant. For purposes of illustration, the fluent material in the various containers 328 is illustrated by shaded areas formed from a plurality of dots. As will be seen in Figure 20, the four containers at the left in Figure 20 have been completely filled and are ready to be transferred" to the output station as by an endless conveyor belt similar tothe belt 268 in Figure 5.

The containers 328 transferred to the output station are replaced by new containers which are transferred to the pockets in feed star 328 (Figure 17) from the feed star 246 (Figure 16) when the feed stars have the proper disposition relative to each other, such as is shown at the right in Figure 16. The new containers 328 do not initially have any fluent material in them. This is illustrated by the seventh container in Figure 20 when the containers are counted from the left in that figure. The remaining containers 328 in Figure 20 have progressively increasing amounts of fluent material in them such that the container atthe right in Figure 20 is almost full.

The apparatus described above is advantageous because it can be disposed in certain sub-assemblies which can be easily attached to or detached from the base assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2. For example, a first subassembly can include the casing 300, the posts 304, the lifters 306, the rollers 312, the support tube 330, the sleeve 332, the reservoir 104, the retainers 340, the cyliriders 126, the rollers 170 and and the valve stems 384. A second sub-assembly can include the support bars 354, the'stanchions 356, the ring 134, the tracks 142 and 184, the brackets 392 and the guide track 394.-

When it is desired to use the apparatus shown in Figures 16 to 20, inclusive, and described fully above, the first sub-assembly mentioned in the previous paragraph can be easily attached as by screws to the rim portion 52 of the support member 40. In like manner, the second sub-assembly mentioned in the previous paragraph can be easily attached as by screws to the bosses 32 on the flange portion 26 of the housing 24. After the filling operation has been completed, the first and second sub-assemblies can be easily detached from the base assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 by removing the appropriate screws. The sub-assemblies can then be stored until the next time that a piston type of filling operation from a bottom-fill position is desired. After the sub-assemblies have been removed from the base assemblies, various other subassernblies can be attached to the base assemblies to obtain different types of filling operations.

It should be appreciated that the valve stems 384 have 

